Final Year- EHU second week

Monday

Today feels like a good day, I was up early and at the gym. You really realise how different our capabilities comes from the general public lets say- as when doing my stretching part of my session (also as I have no room in the flat) after I was approached about how insane it was. I was in a normal bridge. I am by no means 'flexible' for a dancer and explain that these are the base levels expected. I think sometimes we are too harsh on ourselves and realise we perform to an audience who aren't all trained their whole lives people and what we do is amazing.

2-6 I had my drama lecture which went from one weird metaphor to another. We delivered our fake proposal for our improv company which went down really well and gave insights into our manifestos. Though it was still 'strange' to most people this drama lecture was the most substantial I had in 4 years and gave me leads of theories or theorists to explore for my dissertation. I was also able to multitask and start developing the webpage for the dance module I am a part of and the marketing side off this by-product company. I have learnt so much alongside university independently, and feel ready to tackle the real world somehow.

After jazz technique class- i headed to trampolining which was fully booked, so a nice early night was good for me to get everything back in order. I think this weekend ill start the solo library dates again.

Tuesday

I didn't quite manage the early gym rise and felt so much more lethargic throughout the day. I had a morning in bed with a film which was beautiful and then had Uni 2-6. Again id miss the evening classes as there is a show on tonight but I am SO EXCITED to see the circus inspired work which has been co-choreographed with one of my favourite lecturers.

Class today produced some beautiful material but I also found myself very sluggish towards the end. I half-beat myself up for this as I want to take every opportunity and always show myself at my best BUT we are all human and I pushed the most I could and got some nice results and interesting moments in choreography. I am definitely more confident putting my ideas forward and they are taken a lot more- another thing to show my growth from my year abroad.

THE SHOW WAS INCREDIBLE. Full of amazing-ly innovative and creative sketches which flowed seamlessly, amazing set (this circular stage with a pole and trampoline built in which dissembled in front of our eyes and got used in different ways for each scene) and incredible stunts. Like amazing. Speechless. It was so nice to see the relationships some of our lectures have with professional companies outside the University- these being from Madrid.

I am so inspired by them.

Wednesday

Class at 11-1 today. It didn't give me much time to be productive before (I was not getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym). The class went slower, with us cleaning through stuff we had done and then discussing other works out there- with some surprising twists. Again I was introduced to the world the lecturers had and some of the contacts they know.

After class I met up with a friend and helped applications for work this summer. I need to stat planning ahead but am lucky I have trips booked until the new year to really focus on what my next step will be. There was 3rd Edge Company class tonight. It was always a session I struggled with being more technical, and I sued to feel so far behind. I was dreading it if I am honest. I could never pick up the material. In class I was struck with how open the teaching was and how lovely and inviting it was- as we did exercises to introduce ourselves to some of the first years. I realised how far I had come being able to pick up sequences first time, where two years ago I would have never got them no matter how much they were explained. MIND SET REALLY MATTERS AND SO DOES KNOWING WHAT YOU NEED.

I am so glad I took a year abroad as I am now the person I always wanted to be - still got ways to improve but secure in my dancing and not self-conscious thinking I am awful. Even the worst people (me) can become amazing.

QUOTE

After class I was back home and FINALLY having lunch. I prepped for the weekends ahead after finding out about more auditions and then went to the gym. I am finding ways to fill up my time- and though I cannot afford loads of classes right now (and how good they would be) the time to travel to Liverpool is too much in a tight schedule- so I am doing the next best thing and attending classes I can make but improving my body strength and endurance physically and mentally.

Thursday

9-11 went quickly. We were given a lecture on PGCE options for further education, where if you went down a maths route you would get paid to do the year- in a sense. I am fortunate enough to have a background in it but is still not a choice I would take right now.

The last 1.5 hours of class was spent pitching our dissertation ideas to the group for feedback or other ares to look for research. I pitched mine and even the lecturers had no idea about much further or linked pieces. Some of my fellow classmates spoke to me after about their interest in my idea (being an amazing person to scout to perform) and some related theories.

After not sleeping much last night I got some jobs done then slept most of the afternoon. Once FINALLY awake I went back to Uni for a ballet and lyrical class.

I was dying in Ballet. It wasn't complicated or overally layered but now I had the understanding in my body I was able to work up a massive sweat. This was my hardest class this week in that respect. Going into lyrical it was the same and I was introduced to some new ways of getting to the floor.

We did knee drops- going through the feet- and then the raise to get back up. This was a move I always wanted to do in A LEVEL but just didn't have the quad strength and then spent all of second year trying and killing my legs off. Now it was a normal move. I think we all focus on where we aren't and how much we have to improve but fail to look back on things and how long they took- which is often the same for most people- and how we are now. BE PROUD OF YOU.

Friday

THE GIANTS ARE COMING TO LIVERPOOL!!!! and though i planned to go I ended up not. I brought a pile of snacks from Morrisons, set up office on the dining room table and began my manifesto research. I am now making a dance film around my topic- SO STAY POSTED FOR IT IN THE NEW YEAR.

That was Friday- nothing exciting.

Saturday

I got up early and headed into the library with all my books- bar the one I actually needed which had Manifesto research. So like a good student I began my dissertation research and from what started as a long chore i got really excited when coming up with an idea for the opening. Now i just need to think who i could use who could accomplish it.

After I met up with my friend, before getting ready to go out out the first time this year.

Equipped in heels and a change of outfit last minute, wine in my hand I had high hopes. Yet stepping into the club the year out suddenly felt like a decade and we were looking back at the memories of our second year (our real uni year). Everyone in the art centre was out and knew everyone- we made up the dance floor and you could get lost but find someone you knew in a second. Now we knew no one out and everyone looked so young. The music molded into remixes of songs I didn't know. It was something else.

I still had a good night but will be saving up for a night in Liverpool town centre. One year makes the biggest difference with changing bodies.

Sunday

Up early and ready for work. Today I was part of the team shooting on behalf of the University for their advertising. It lasted most of the day but was so chill I got to finish this blog and find my dissertation music (my idea being get some stuff now so when you get busier and lose some motivation next semester you have stuff to fall on).

I am excited for the new week to start just to get into the habit of going to the gym more. I know I worked hard this week but at the moment it is diminishing towards the end. I am working slow and steady trying to avoid a burn-out.